#maynie

1

// EAT SOME FRESH FRUITS

Thailand is one of the many tropical countries. In summer, a lot of fruits are in season and there are plenty that will surely wake up your taste buds. With such a wide variety of colorful fruits, you may find some to be exotic; But do not be afraid to try them all - they might just end up being one of your favorites this summer! Wake up early, take a walk to a local market and get ready for when these fruits give your taste buds a wake-up call!

2

// TAKE A CANAL TOUR

Escaping the burning summer heat can be easy when you can take a simple boat ride and breeze through the Chao Phraya River of Bangkok. Since the river runs through the old Bangkok town, you can also take a boat tour where you get to go on a little sightseeing of the beautiful temples including the Grand Palace. These river boats are long tail boats and they can be hired along each side of the river.

3

// GET A COOL-OFF DRINK AT A CHIC CAFÉ

If you just can’t bare with the heat anymore and you need some time to cool off, I would recommend stopping by a café. Most restaurants and café’s in Bangkok are very nicely decorated and, more importantly, they have AC! They also offer a variety of refreshing drinks- from coffees, Thai teas to fresh juices that will help get you ready to continue on with your adventures in the Summer weather.

4

// SPEND A DAY SNORKELLING IN PHUKET

Taking a day trip to explore the underwater beauty is a good way to get out of your comfort zone. There are many islands down the south of Thailand that you can explore in one day. It is a fantastic idea to start your snorkeling experience on the island of Phuket, where you can hire a speedboat, then visit the other small islands and their beaches. After this trip, your inner self might even start calling out for a scuba diving adventure!

5

// GET A THAI MASSAGE ON THE BEACH

Most hotels located next to the beach offer massages for their guests. This is when you get to drift off with the sound of the sea, without a care in the world and let the sea breeze wash over your body. These massage places are usually under tents, so you don’t have to worry about getting sunburnt from laying in the sunlight.

6

// GO ON A ROADTRIP

There are plenty of amazing destinations in Thailand. If you go up north, you find the mountains, but if you head down south, you find the beach. The roadtrip destinations are totally up to you. You can always choose to go alone if you’re feeling brave, or you can grab some friends, rent a car and go exploring. Don’t worry if you get lost because you can just stop on the side of the road and ask the locals for directions, they’re pretty friendly!

7

// BREEZE THROUGH TRAFFIC ON A TUK-TUK

This is a must when in Thailand. If you just happen to find yourself in Bangkok traffic, jump on a tuk-tuk. It is a quicker and cheaper alternative of a taxi. They are fairly easy to find and they make transportation much easier.

8

// GO TO A FULL MOON PARTY

A bunch of people have said good things about the Full Moon Party in Thailand and it wouldn’t hurt to try new things, right? No matter which part of the country you are, you can always find this party in your nearest city. It is held every now and then - the schedule is also up online so you can easily make sure you don’t miss it while enjoying your stay in Thailand.

9

// EAT AT A TRADITIONAL THAI RESTAURANT

Thai food is loved by many people around the globe because of its delicate taste. It has the mixture of all the flavors you can ever imagine and its preparation process is indeed very intricate. Some favorite dishes include Pad Thai (of course), Masaman - Thai curry and Tom Yam Gung - a spicy but sour soup. If you’re lucky, you might even get to learn about the Thai cuisine from the masters!

10

// GO BIKING THROUGH THE OLD TOWN

To take a tour of the temples in the old town of Bangkok, I would recommend going to the temples early in the morning. These open up for tourist visits around 8:30am. This would also be a good time to bike because the sunlight won’t be as intense at this time as midday. You would still need sunscreen though! Biking is a perfect fit for touring the old town since you can take shortcuts through the small streets or soi’s, as you would call it in Thai. It makes life easier as well, when it comes to finding a space to park in.

I hope you all get to check off the ten things on this list during your stay in Thailand - the land of smiles! :) Don’t be afraid to explore, and if you still are, just keep in mind that the locals are very friendly. If you never get out of your comfort zone, you’ll never know what you are capable of.. so why don’t just get out there this summer? And if you have any questions, I’m always happy to help as well :)

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It was the 25th of April when the big earthquake hit Nepal. We had experienced one before, about three years ago, but this time, it lasted for much longer. I was lucky to be out in the open when it happened. On that day, the weather was gloomy and the earthquake was followed by a distant sound of people screaming. I decided to stay out in the open after the earthquake and we felt several aftershocks. After 2-3 hours, our aftershock count was up to 17. I stayed in Nepal for two more nights (after the quake), but I wasn’t able to put myself to sleep completely. Every time I heard a deep, roaring sound, I got ready to leave my bed and run out. The sound was terrifying but triumphant as if it had caused thousands of echoes among the mountains surrounding the Kathmandu Valley. The feeling that I had was an unsettling one.  Amidst of all that has happened, I truly felt compassionate for those who have lost their loved ones during the incident. In my experience, I have never seen the country suffer so much as it is suffering today. On the streets, many people gathered on the road partitions. They were too scared to go back to their normal activities in their homes. Some also believed in the spirits of the dead bodies that were in their houses. 

These people didn’t have anywhere to go. On rainy days, they had to live under tarps to keep dry. The monsoon season in Nepal is arriving very soon and I am so grateful that the international community has been sending help to Nepal; the country that has helped shape me as a person. This country has played a large role in influencing the individual that I am today and it has offered me a different perspective on life. If I didn’t live in Nepal, I wouldn’t have recognized and understood many issues in the world today. I am grateful to have gone through all of this with Nepal and I hope for everyone in Nepal to stay strong in these tough times.

- Maynie

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